DAC Report [2026 Guide]: Everything CDL Drivers Need

A DAC report plays an important role in your trucking career. Most drivers don’t know what information it contains. They don’t know about its red flags and their impact on their job.

A DAC report can influence whether you will be selected or rejected for the next job. An unchecked error in your report can prevent you from getting a job. A negative report with red flags causes automatic rejection.

In this complete guide, we will explain what a DAC report is and why it is important. You will learn how to read and identify errors. You will be able to dispute errors and understand how to avoid red flags.

What Is a DAC Report?

A DAC report is a driver’s employment and background history record. It is a private report. A DAC report is created for safety purposes. Trucking companies use this report to filter driver job applicants.

What does DAC stand for?

In trucking, DAC stands for Driver-A-Check. It is a driver background report. Motor carriers pull this report before hiring a driver. No unauthorized person, including a driver’s friends, can access the report online. It is for professional use only. The driver can legally request his own DAC report.

Who creates and maintains DAC reports?

DAC reports are created and maintained by HireRight. HireRight is a private background screening company. This company gets input data from past or current motor carriers. HireRight processes and manages records. Hiring motor carriers can request a DAC report from this company. That motor carrier requires a driver’s written permission to request his DAC report.

Why trucking companies use DAC reports

Trucking companies use DAC reports for different reasons. They can look at the driver’s work history. A DAC report provides up to 10 years of employment history. Trucking companies can assess the safety risks from this report. It shows reported accident records and violations. A company can check if the driver is marked rehireable. They can view the substance history.

Who Has a DAC Report?

Many drivers who drive commercial trucks have a DAC report. Mainly, company drivers always have a DAC report. CDL drivers and owner-operators also have their history records.

CDL drivers

Some commercial truck drivers operate heavy vehicles. These drivers are known as CDL ( commercial driver’s license) holders. These drivers carry large responsibility due to interstate driving. These are the primary individuals with DAC reports. Motor companies send their reports to Hireright as soon as they start working. These reports have a major impact on hiring.

Owner-operators

Owner-operators are of two types. One type includes those who are leased to a motor carrier. Their company sends employment history to HireRight. They also send the reason why they fired a driver. So, these kinds of owner-operators do have a DAC report.

The second type of owner-operators consists of independent drivers. They have their own DOT/MC number. They do not have DAC reports. Brokers and insurance companies may use other records, such as PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) information. 

Company drivers

Company drivers are the largest group to have DAC reports. Their employment history is tracked in these files. Companies review the driver’s rehire status. Your past company can mark you as “Eligible for rehire”. Another important record a company views is a driver’s equipment care history. A company can see whether the driver cared for the equipment, returned it on time, or damaged it.

Drivers without a DAC report

Some drivers do not have DAC reports. These include drivers who work for small fleets or family-owned companies. They do not pay a high subscription fee to HireRight. Local drivers with specific niches also do not have DAC reports. New CDL graduate drivers have blank HireRight reports.   

What Information Is Included in a DAC Report?

A DAC report acts much like a credit report for CDL-holding drivers. It gives a comprehensive work history of the driver. It contains substance abuse information about the driver as well. It also includes details of the previous company the driver worked for.

Employment history

A DAC report contains all the necessary employment information. This report shows the dates of your employment. It also provides information about your experience level. A DAC report contains details of the equipment that you drive. It includes information on the freight and the routes. It gives the reason for leaving the company. A DAC report gives official names of the previous companies. It gives their addresses and the USDOT numbers.

Driving record and license information

A DAC report includes information about your credentials and motor vehicle records. This report includes your active CDL number, state of issuance, and expiration date. It also shows the current status of your license and any applicable restrictions. A DAC report also includes the motor vehicle record history. It contains reckless driving, speeding, and driving with a suspended license.

Accidents and roadside inspections

This portion of the DAC report includes major and minor accidents. The Department of Transportation records the major crashes. It involves fatalities, injuries treated away from the scene, and vehicles towed away. Carrier-reported incidents are minor accidents. Examples include scraping a guardrail and backing into a dock. They did not require a police report but were noted by your employer. DAC reports also include HOS violations and issued traffic tickets.  

Drug and alcohol testing history

A DAC report also has drug and alcohol testing history. This report shows verified positive tests for substance abuse and alcohol test results. It also provides information if the driver refused testing. The FMCSA Clearinghouse database is also present in the DAC report. This report also indicates whether you have completed the required return-to-duty after a violation. 

Equipment operated and endorsements

Your DAC report shows the type of equipment you drive (dry van, reefer, or flatbed). This report also gives the type of load you haul, such as hazardous materials or oversized loads. Your vehicle specs (manual or automated) and verified endorsements on your CDL are noted in the DAC report.

Rehire eligibility and employer comments

DAC report shows the rehire status, whether it is marked “yes” or “no”. It gives information about the reason for your separation from the company. This report includes information about your work-related factors, such as communication and paperwork accuracy. If you leave cargo at an unauthorized location, you will get severe negative comments.

Why Is a DAC Report Important?

A DAC report is important for both the employer and the driver. Employers can see the safety risks and the impact on their business. A driver’s career depends on this report. His whole work history is included in it.

How employers use DAC reports during hiring

Employers use the DAC report during the hiring process. They request the report from HireRight. They compare the report with the driver’s resume to verify work history and experience. They assess safety and legal compliance from this report. Employers evaluate professional conduct and FMCSA compliance as well.

How a DAC report affects job opportunities

A DAC report directly dictates job opportunities. A positive report can support employment opportunities, while a negative report can make it more difficult to get a job. A clear DAC report qualifies you for better pay and premium routes. Drivers with positive reports see a faster hiring process. They also have chances to get bonuses.

Can a bad DAC report prevent you from getting hired?

While positive reports open doors, negative reports can prevent the driver from getting hired. Severe red flags can cause automatic rejection of the application. Insurance companies may view you as a high-risk driver, and you become expensive to insure. If your report has “Not Eligible for Rehire,” employers will skip your application. 

How to Get a Copy of Your DAC Report

Drivers can get their DAC report by requesting it from HireRight. It’s their legal right to get a free copy. You need to provide specific personal information to submit a request. 

Request a free DAC report from HireRight.

You can request a free DAC report from HireRight. They are bound to provide you one. You can request additional copies with a fee. You can request the report by calling HireRight customer service from Monday to Friday. You can also request a report by sending an email. Sending an email is a fast method. 

How often you can request your report

You get a free copy every 12 months. You can request additional copies under certain conditions. Those conditions include job denial, unemployment, and public assistance. You can request a report if there is suspicion of inaccurate information. 

What information you need to submit a request

To submit a request, you need to fill out the information online. That information includes:

• Full Legal Name
• Social Security Number
• Date of Birth
• Current Mailing Address
• Phone Number or Email
• Driver’s License Number

How to Read Your DAC Report

You must read your DAC report to check accuracy. You must compare it with your original record. The company may provide incorrect work history. It will risk your carrier.

Verify your employment history

You must verify your employment history. You should compare the job’s start and end dates on the DAC report with the original dates. Look for overlapping dates or extra gaps in your report. You should verify the reason for leaving. Ensure that “quit with notice” is not listed as “abandoned equipment”.

Check for inaccurate violations or comments.

You must compare the carrier remarks with your official state records. Past employers often leave red flag comments in the text field. Under FCRA, companies cannot report unproven allegations. Look for comments that contradict your official termination letter.

Review accident and inspection records

To review accident and inspection records, request your pre-employment screening program (PSP) report. This report contains 5-year accident and 3-year road inspection records. Compare this report with the DAC report. Check if the crash meets the definition of a DOT-recordable accident. You should verify whether the carrier logged a non-preventable accident as preventable. You should ensure that company maintenance failure is not written as a personal failure of your driving habits.

How to Dispute Errors on a DAC Report

After finding errors on a DAC report, you should dispute it. You can send a formal dispute to HireRight Online or call their customer service.

Common reasons to file a dispute

Common reasons to file a dispute include false accident records, inaccurate safety violations, and incorrect equipment violations. Work history and employment errors also lead drivers to file a dispute. Other reasons are administrative and personal errors. These errors can involve the mixing of driver files. They also include outdated and incomplete information.

Steps to dispute incorrect information

If you want to dispute errors in your DAC report, follow the given steps:

• Request your free annual DAC report
• Review it thoroughly
• Highlight the errors
• Gather the proof (from employment, equipment, and safety records)
• File the formal dispute
• Track the investigation

How long the dispute process takes

The dispute process may take up to 30 days from the day of submission. In the first 3 days, HireRight receives your dispute, reviews it, and starts the investigation. For the next 4 to 25 days, HireRight sends the dispute to the company and waits for its response. In the next 26 to 30 days, if the company admits it or fails to respond, HireRight may delete the inaccurate information from your report. HireRight sends you results via email within 5 working days.

DAC Report vs. PSP Report: What’s the Difference?

A private reporting company maintains the DAC report. Past motor carriers provide information for this report. It focuses on your work background and professional reputation.

The FMCSA provides the PSP report. It contains all the official records and information about driver work. It focuses mainly on safety performance.

What a DAC report includes

A DAC report includes the following information:

• Driver identification and employment history
• Previous motor carrier employers
• Dates of employment
• Position and job responsibilities
• Reason for leaving previous employment
• Safety performance history
• Accident and incident records
• Drug and alcohol testing history
• Roadside inspection records
• Driver qualification information
• Rehire eligibility status
• Employment verification details

What a PSP report includes

A PSP report contains the following information:

• Driver identification information
• Five-year crash history
• Three-year inspection history
• Crash involvement records
• Roadside inspection results
• Inspection violations
• Driver-related safety violations
• Out-of-service violations
• Inspection dates and locations
• Violation severity information
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records
• Commercial driver safety history

Which report do trucking companies use?

Trucking companies use both reports as they serve different purposes. Medium to large companies use the PSP report. Companies also use this report when drivers do not have a DAC report. Large companies mainly use DAC reports. They check the driver’s behaviour and work history. 

Common DAC Report Red Flags

Some comments from carriers act as red flags. If you have red flags on your DAC report, the company is less likely to hire you. Frequent job changes, terminations, safety violations, and failed drug tests are common red flags.

Frequent job changes

If you are changing more than 3 jobs in a year, that’s a red flag. It marks “Job Hopping” on your DAC report. Companies do not hire such drivers. Carriers have to spend thousands of dollars on background checks, drug testing, and onboarding of new hires. Job changes also raise safety concerns and show a lack of commitment.

Terminations or abandoned equipment

Termination is also a red flag. The reason for it matters more to safety managers. Abandoned equipment is the most severe red flag. It can cause automatic rejections. Carriers have to pay for a secondary driver and fuel costs to return their asset. Leaving a truck also increases the risk of cargo theft. It also affects delivery times.

Safety violations and accidents

Safety violations and accidents are critical red flags. Safety violations include HOS manipulations, spending in CMV, and load securement failures. Accidents are either preventable or non-preventable. Preventable accidents mean you failed to do everything reasonable to avoid a crash. Many preventable accidents on DAC reports have a negative impact.

Failed drug or alcohol tests

Failed drug and alcohol tests are a severe and permanent red flag. A positive test, test refusal, and alcohol concentration above 0.04 can constitute violations under applicable drug and alcohol testing rules. It causes an immediate out-of-service order. This violation is electronically reported to the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The carrier logs this violation on your DAC report as well.

Build Your Trucking Career with Max Dispatch

Finding loads through the right company or carrier is very important. The company you select affects your DAC report. Max Dispatch connects you with companies that can provide favourable employment opportunities. Their experts know the importance of the DAC file. Max Dispatch experts review your report and help you file a dispute if there is an error. They inform you about all the red flags in your DAC report. Max Dispatch helps you review your DAC file as you build your trucking career.